Nicki Knightz Unveils "Cold Nights in East": A Raw, Self-Recorded Testament To Resilience

With a brooding beat from Swedish producer Markmywords and her signature husky flow, Nicki weaves a haunting narrative of trauma, survival, and self-discovery rooted in her Hackney upbringing. Available now, Cold Nights in East isn’t just a song—it’s a testament to resilience and a glimpse into an artist shaping her legacy on her own terms.

You’ve said it took “72,737 takes” to get the vocal right. Was that perfectionism, therapy, or both?

Definitely perfectionism. I get in my head a lot during the creative process, and before, I always had Henny around to help pick the best takes. Without that second ear, I ended up spiraling a bit. I don’t always trust my own creative decisions, so I was nitpicking everything — every breath, every tone.

But with this track, the vocals had to be right. It’s such a personal song, and I knew the emotion wouldn’t land if the delivery wasn’t clear and intentional. So yeah, maybe it was a bit of therapy too — working through my own doubt in real time. In the end, all those takes weren’t about chasing perfection for perfection’s sake — it was about making sure the message came through the way it deserved to.

The track feels like more than a song, almost like a letter to your younger self. Did it start that way?

I wouldn’t say I started writing the song with that in mind — it definitely wasn’t intentional. I just wanted to map out my life chronologically and capture it in its rawest form, no filters, no fluff. But as the lyrics started to come together, I realised I was revisiting parts of myself I hadn’t properly sat with before. And looking back, I can see why it comes across like a letter to my younger self.

In many ways, I guess it is. It’s me speaking to the version of myself that was confused, unheard, and just trying to make sense of the world. The song became a space for me to reflect, but also to show that I’ve grown — that I’m still here, still evolving. It’s vulnerable, but there’s strength in that, too. I think sometimes, healing looks like telling your story without trying to dress it up.

What did you hear in the beat from Markmywords that made you say, “Yeah, this is the one”?

From the first listen, it felt like a movie. The beat had this cinematic quality, especially the way the piano comes in during the intro. It instantly transported me to a certain time and place, almost like I was stepping back into a memory. That’s rare.

Usually, I’ll write a few lines to a beat just to see if there’s a connection, but with this one, I knew pretty quickly it was the right fit. The first couple bars came naturally, and I could already feel the story forming. It wasn’t just a beat — it was the foundation for everything I wanted to say.

This release is raw. Visceral. Did anything scare you about putting this one out?

There’s not much that scares me when it comes to sharing my truth. I’m actually a really private and guarded person day-to-day, but music’s always been the space where I can let everything out. I don’t shy away from revealing the raw, messy parts of myself — if anything, that’s where I feel the most free.

But if I’m honest, the one thing that does make me nervous is when I’m speaking on other people’s truth, whether it’s family, friends, or people from my past. I always worry about how my words might make them feel. Even if I’m coming from a real place, I never want to cause harm. That’s the balance I’m still learning — how to be honest, but also mindful.

You’ve always spoken on identity, survival, and pain. What part of your story does this track tell that others haven’t?

This track tells the part of my story I’ve never really said out loud in full — the root. The stuff that shaped me before I even knew who I was. A lot of my past music touches on identity, survival, and pain, yeah, but this one takes it right back to the beginning. It’s not coded or metaphorical — it’s raw, specific, and autobiographical.

I’m talking about fleeing home at three, suicidal thoughts at nine, drinking young, watching pain move through generations — all of that. It’s a reflection of what it means to grow up in Hackney as a quiet, observant kid absorbing everything around me. I wanted to give that younger version of me a voice and show the darker corners of my environment without glamorising it.

I guess going to therapy made me start wondering more about origin — where certain patterns come from, what shaped my thinking, what I was carrying without even realising it. That curiosity pushed this song deeper than just a reflection. It became a kind of emotional excavation.

It’s not just about survival anymore — it’s about understanding where survival even came from.

What does “East” mean to you right now? Has your relationship with Hackney changed over time?

I’d say I’m slowly falling back in love with East right now. It’s always been a love–hate relationship. I’ve hated it at times, mostly because of past experiences and the people tied to certain memories. But I’m learning to separate the place from the pain.

There’s something about East London — the energy, the rawness, the culture — that’s always been in me. Lately, I’ve been going out more in East, and it feels… different. Maybe that’s because I’m different now. I’m seeing it through a new lens, beyond just the trauma I used to associate it with. The buzz, the creativity, the way it keeps evolving — I’m learning to appreciate all of that again.

So yeah, my relationship with Hackney is changing. But through it all, I’ve always been proud to be from here. That’s never wavered.

From “Hate” to “The Last One”, your sound has evolved — more cinematic, more intimate. Where does “Cold Nights In East” fit in that journey?

“Cold Nights in East” is me going back to source. Back to where it all started, so I can move forward properly. When I started therapy, I told my therapist I wanted to go right to the beginning — to understand the how and the why. This track feels like that. Like I’m walking through the past to make peace with it.

Recently, I’ve felt like I’m going through a bit of a rebirth. Everything’s shifting — mentally, spiritually, even musically. “Cold Nights” captures that moment where you’re not quite who you were, but you’re not yet who you’re becoming either. It’s reflective, raw, and grounding. The start of a new chapter, but rooted in where I come from.

You’ve often said you make music for the outcasts. Who did you make this song for — and what do you hope it gives them?

I guess it’s still for them — the outcasts. The ones from ends who aren’t the hood’s celebrity. It’s for the people who move in the background, who don’t always get seen or heard. The ones that get overlooked or even neglected.

“Cold Nights” speaks to all of them. I feel like the mandem can connect with parts of it, just as much as the misfit kid from ends who never quite fit in. My story isn’t just mine — a lot of people from where I’m from have been through similar things, if not worse.

Even though the track’s heavy, I like to think there’s hope in it too. The hook especially — lines like “we gone be fine” — that’s something I needed to hear, and I hope someone else hears it and feels that too.

It wasn’t until I found my tribe that I realised everything’s not as bad as it seems. That kind of belonging changes you.

If someone plays this track alone at 2AM, headphones on — what’s the one line or moment you hope hits the hardest?

“Think about suicide, I was only nine.”

That line right there. It’s raw, it’s real — no filter. If someone’s listening at 2AM, headphones on, I want that to hit. Cause if you’ve ever felt that low, especially young, you’ll feel it.

But I also hope “we gone be fine” stays with them. That’s the light in all the darkness. The reminder you need when everything feels too much.

With Cold Nights in East, Nicki Knightz proves she’s not just telling stories—she’s rewriting her own. This self-recorded single marks a pivotal moment in her journey, blending unflinching honesty with sonic evolution. From her Hackney roots to her growing global presence, Nicki’s music continues to resonate, offering a voice to those navigating their own shadows. Stream Cold Nights in East now and witness an artist carving her path, unapologetically and undeniably. Keep up with Nicki Knightz as she builds her legacy, one raw, real track at a time.

Photos by @aurali_sm